Fabrication and Evaluation of Gastro-Retentive, Mucoadhesive Tablets from Murraya Koenigii Leaves

Target drug delivery is beneficial for the delivery of pharmaceutical product to its appropriate site and with the resurgence in the use of herbal therapies as health care medication and this new field of drug delivery holds intensive research. The purpose of the current study was to design, gastroretentive  mucoadhesive tablets using powdered leaves of Murraya koenigii and to optimize  a product using natural gums and their combinations. The gastroretentive, boiadhesive drug delivery prolongs the residence time of the dosage form at the site of absorption and facilitates an intimate contact of the dosage form with the underline absorption surface and thus contribute to improve and/or better therapeutic performance of the drug and shows promising future in enhancing the bioavailability and specific needs by utilizing the physiochemical characters of both the dosage form and the mucosal lining Gastroretentive, mucoadhesive tablets using powdered leaves of Murraya koenigii were prepared using direct compression method and evaluated for parameters such as Weight variation, Hardness, Friability, Drug content, Swelling index, In –vitro drug release study, In – vitro and In – vivo mucoadhesive strength. Different types of natural gums such as Carbopol, Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and a gas – generating agent (Sodium bicarbonate) were used. The investigation shows that the tablet composition and mechanical strength have the greatest influence on the floating properties and the drug release. With the incorporation of a gas – generating agent, along with the polymers, increased optimum floating (floating lag time to 30 minutes, and the duration of floating > 8 hours ). The drug release was also increased and was sufficiently sustained (more than 8 hours) and non –Fickian transport of the drug was confirmed.